Apparatus for use in coating carcasses



May 28,1940.. A E, O'ZOUF l2,202,022

APPARATUS FOR USE IN COATING CARCASSES Filed Nov. 1a, 1937 5 sheets-sheet 1 May 28, 1940.I l A E. ozoUF l 2,202,022

APPARATUS FOR USE IN GOATING ICARGA-553s Filed Nov. 18. 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 www 'mmf May 28 l940- A. E. ozouF y 2,202,022

APPARATUS FOR USE IN COATING CARGASSES Filed Nov. 18. 1937 5 sheets-sheet s gfx/67225? May 28, 1940. A. E. ozouF 2,202,022

APPARATUS FOR USE IN COATING QARCASSES Filed Nov. 18. 5 sheets-sheet 4 May 28, 1940.

A. E. OZOUF PPARATUS FOR USE IN COATING CARCASSES Filed Nov. 18, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 28, 1940 APPARATUS FOR USE IN COATING CARCASSES Arthur E. Ozouf, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Allbright-Nell Go., Chicago, 111.,.a corporation of Illinois Application November 18, 1937, Serial No. 175,290

14 claims. (el- :lr-11.1)

The present invention relates generally to apmaterial from bubbling over during remelting paratus for use in connection with the applicathereof, and (2) a reclaiming tank which is con-v tion of melted readily congealable material to nected to receive the remelted material from the machine dehaired hog carcasses to form seal-like remelting tank and has simple and novel means 5 coatings which upon stripping or peeling 'from for eiiecting removal of the hair and other debris 5 the carcasses effect removal of the hair and roots from such material. remaining after the machine dehairingopera- Another object of the invention is to provide Ytion as well as the removal of glanular secretions a carcass coating apparatus of the aforemenand other undesirable matter from the skin pOrtioned type and character which embodies a novel tions of the carcasses. More particularly the in-y arrangement for maintaining the material in the 10 vention relates to that type of coating applying dipping tank at a xed or predetermined level apparatus which is adapted for use in a combined at all times to the end that the carcasses acquire slaughtering and packing house with an overhead uniform seal-like coatings during the dipping rail for conveying the carcasses by wayof gamoperation.

l5 brel supporting trolleys from the dehairing ma- A further object of the invention is to provide 15 chine to either a polishing machine or the carcass a carcass coating apparatus which is ecient in cutting and inspection line and comprises a maoperation as well as practical and fulfills its terial-containing tank in the floor of the comintended purpose with but a minimum loss of the bined slaughtering and packing house and becoating material.

neath the overhead rail, and in addition a dipping Other objects oi the invention and the various 20 mechanism which embodies a motor driven endadvantages and characteristics of the present less conveyor in an interruption or cut-out in carcass coating apparatus will be apparent from the portion of the overhead rail above the tank a consideration of the following detailed -deand operates during drive of the conveyor to scription.

remove the carcasses, one at a time, from the 'Ihe invention consists in the several novel fea- 25 preceding section of the rail, that is, the section tures which are hereinafter set forth and are between it and the dehairing machineor theA more particularh7 dened by claims at the conusual gambrel applying table at the discharge clusion hereof. end of the dehairing machine, then to lower the In the drawings which accompany and form carcasses into the material in the tank for coata part of this specification or disclosure and in 30 ing purposes, and finally to elevate the carcasses `which like numerals of reference denote correand transfer or place them on the following secsponding parts throughout the several views:

tion of the rail for travel past the coating strip- Figure 1 is a View partly in section and partly ping point to the polishing machine or cutting in side elevation showing a two floor carcass and inspection line. coating apparatus constituting one form of the 35 One object of the invention is to provide an invention; apparatus of this type which in addition to the Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the tank and dipping mechanism comprises means reclaiming tank of the two oor apparatus of OI' melting the Stripped COalIlgS and effecting Figure 1, that is, the tank wherein the remelted 40 TemOVa 0f the hail and other debris from the material is cleared of hair and other debris 40 melted material and also means for' delivering which are removed from the carcasses when the the material from such means back to the dipcoatings are Stripped or peeled therefrom; ping tank so that it is available for use in con- Figure 3 is a fragmentary 'front View of the nection with the coating of otherlcarcasses. reclaiming tank of Figure 2 with parts broken a ctlse; gallicgoggrxgnlforhl fgsr away and shown in section in order to illustrate 45 tioned character in which the means for melting the Constrimtlon arid deslgn of the Screen Eind the stripped coatings and effecting removal ol.' trough Whlch Commute the means pr effectmg the hair and other debris from the melted matel-emoval of thE hajlr and other debris from the rial comprises (l) a remelting -tank which is lemflted mammal 50 adapted to receive the coatings immediately after Figure 4 1 5 an end vlew of the reclalmmg talk; stripping or peeling from the carcasses and re- Figure 5 1s a vertlcal transverse sectlonal view melt the material and has a power vdriven agitaken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 and illustrating tator therein for liberating the moisture accomthe arrangement 0f the Steam GOlS Which SeIVe panying the coatings and preventing the mass of to maintain the remelted material in the reclaiming tank at the proper temperature for delivery or return to the dipping tank;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the remelting tank;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the remelting tank with parts broken away and shown in section to illustrate the arrangement and design of the power driven agitator for liberating the moisture accompanying the coatings and preventing the mass of material from bubbling over during remelting thereof; and

Figure 8 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of a one iloor carcass coating apparatus constituting another form of the invention.

The apparatus which is shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, constitutes one embodiment of the invention. It is designed for use in connection with a combined slaughtering and packing house H having a main floor f with an overhead rail R thereabove and a sub-oor f1 beneath the main floor and is adapted for use in connection with the application of melted resinous material to machine dehaired hog carcasses in order to form seal-like coatings which when stripped or peeled from the carcasses remove the hair and roots remaining after the machine dehairing operation and also eiect removal of various glandular secretions and other undesirable material from the skin portions of the carcasses. Primarily the apparatus under consideration is adapted for use in connection with the method or process which forms the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 2,100,299, granted November 23, 1937, to Frederick M. Tobin. The overhead rail R is supported beneath the ceiling over the main floor f of the combined slaughtering and packing house H and is adapted to support the carcasses in a depending inverted position by way of gambrel-equipped trolleys T. It has an interruption or cut-out, as shown in Figure l, and comprises a preceding rail section T and a following rail section 11. The rail section r leads from the carcass dehairing machine (not shown) or the usual gambrel applying table at the discharge end of the dehairing machine to the cut-out and the following rail section r1 leads from such cutout to a polishing machine (also not shown) in front of the usual cutting and inspection line.

The apparatus of Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, comprises as the main parts thereof a dipping tank 9, a carcass dipping mechanism I0, a remelting tank I I, and a reclaiming tank I2.

The dipping tank 9 is suitably supported in an opening in the main floor j of the building I-I and is located directly beneath the cut-out in the rail R. It is adapted to hold a column or mass of resinous coating material for the hog carcasses and has a plurality of steam pipes I3 therein. The latter are located in close proximity to the walls of the tank and serve to maintain the adhesive material in a melted condition at a temperature of approximately 300 F. The material is preferably in the form of a compound of resin or pitch and a small amount of soy bean oil or equivalent material.

The carcass dipping mechanism I0 is disposed directly over the dipping tank 0. It corresponds in design and construction to that which forms the subject matter of an application for United States Letters Patent serial No. 172,907, filed by me November 5, 1937, and comprises a frame I5 and an endless conveyor I6. The frame is fabricated of channel bars and embodies a pair of laterally spaced sides which extend parallel to the rail R. The conveyor I 6 is disposed between the sides of the frame and embodies a substantially horizontally extending top reach Il, a downwardly extending reach I8, and an up wardly extending reach I 9. It is preferably in the form of a pair of laterally spaced chains with hook equipped cross-shafts between the two chains and is driven by an electric motor and speed reducing gearing (not shown). The upper reach I 'I of the conveyor is disposed slightly above the rail R and is supported at its ends by chain engaging front sprockets 20 and chain engaging rear sprockets 2I. The downwardly inclined reach I8 extends in the direction of the tank 9 and slightly rearwards and is supported at its lower end by chain engaging sprockets 22 at the bottom portion of the frame I5. The upwardly extending reach I9 projects upward and rearwards from the sprockets 22 and extends over a pair of idler sprockets 23 and thence rearwards to the rear sprockets ZI. The hog carcasses, after machine dehairing thereof, are connected to the trolleys T by way of the gambrels. Thereafter they are moved one at a time along the rail section 1' to the dipping mechanism i0. When the carcasses reach the discharge end of the rail section r, that is, the end adjacent to the mech anism I0, wads of cotton or like material are inserted into the nostrils for plugging purposes and rubber bands are placed around the snouts in order to hold the jaws together. During drive o the endless conveyor the hooks on the crossshafts are adapted as they pass around the front chain engaging sprockets 20 to be brought into hooked relation with the frames of the trolleys T.

During travel of the hook equipped shafts in the downwardly extending reach I8 of the conveyor, the hog carcasses with the nostrils thereof plugged and the snouts clamped by the rubber band are first removed from the discharge end of the preceding rail section r and then lowered into the resinous coating material in the tank As the carcasses pass around the sprockets 22 they become substantially completely immersed in the material and acquire a seal-like adhesive coating. During travel of the hook-equipped shafts of the conveyor in the upwardly extending reach I9 the hog carcasses are elevated or withdrawn from the tank 9. At the upper end of the reach I9 the trolleys T are placed on the receiving end of the following rail section 1'1, as shown in Figure 1. The sprockets 22 are so positioned that the hogs are completely immersed in the resinous material in the tank with the exception of the extremities of the hooks. Beneath the receiving end of the rail section T1 is a drip pan 24. This pan is adapted to catch any drippings from the carcasses as the latter are placed in suspended relation with the following rail section r1 and is connected to what may be termed the rear end of the tank 9 so that the drippings ow back into the tank. After acquiring the seal-like coatings as a result of being dipped in the tank 9 the carcasses are moved along the rail section r1 past a water spray 25 to a platform-type strippinf.r point 26. The spray 25 is adapted to cool the coatings on the carcasses to approximately F. At such temperature the coatings are in o. plastic state and can readily be handled in connection with the stripping or peeling operation. A gutter 21 underlies the spray 25 and serves to catch and drain away the sprayed water. At the stripping point 26 the resinous coatings are stripped or peeled from the carcasses. Stripping is preferably done by several operators. The rst operator generally passes both hands along the inner sides of the hind legs of the carcasses tothe crotch in order to sever the upper portions of the coatings along the inner sides of the hind legs and then folds the coatings downwards. The

f next operator in line then pulls or folds the coatings further downwards along the body portions of the carcasses and other operators in the line complete removal of the coatings from the carcasses. When the coatings are removed hair and roots remaining on the carcasses after the machine dehairingf operation and all glandular secretions and other undesirable matter are removed from the skin portions of the carcasses. As a result of the fact that the temperature of the material in the tank 9 is approximately 300 F. the moisture on and in the skins of the carcasses is transformed or changed into steam and this due to confinement within the seal-like coatings loosens the roots of the hair remaining on the carcasses and materially aids in elimination of the various glandular secretions in connection with stripping of the coatings from the carcasses.

The remelting tank Il is disposed on the subfloor f1 of the combined slaughtering and packing house H at a point directly beneath the platform-type stripping point 26 and comprises a cylindrical side wall 23 and a circular bottom 29 and embodies within the side wall a spiral inner steam pipe 35, a spiral intermediate pipe 3|, and a spiral outer steam pipe 32. The top of the remelting tank is open and is adapted to receive the stripped coatings from stripping point 26 by way of a vertically extending conduit 33. The latter, as shown in Figure 1, extends through f the main oor f and is arranged so that the lower end thereof is directly over the tank Il. Angle iron legs 34 are applied to the bottom portion of the cylindrical side wall 28 and serve to hold the tank H in spaced relation with the sub-floor f1. The spiral steam pipes 30, 3l and 32 are adapted to produce sufficient heat to melt the coatings and preferably maintain the remelted material at a temperature of approximately 325 F. Steam is introduced into the upper ends of the aforementioned pipe by way of a header 35. This header receives steam from any suitable source and is connected to the pipes 30, 3| and 32 by way of downwardly extending pipe sections 35, 3l and 33. The lower or discharge ends of the spiral steam pipes are connected by way of vertically extending pipes 39, 4@ and 4l to a header 42 which is suitably connected to the return side of the steam producing system. In order to agitate the melted material so as to libf lerate the moisture accompanying the coatings and prevent the same from changing into steam and causing the remelted material to bubble over, the remelting tank ll is provided with an agitator 43. The latter is in the form of a vertically extending shaft 44 which is centrally positioned in the tank and embodies a series of vertically spaced paddles 45. The lower end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing 45 which is mounted on a racket 41 on the central portion of the tank bottom 29. The agitator is adapted to be driven by an electric motor 43. IIhe latter is mounted on a bracket 48 on the outside of the side wall 28 of the remelting tank and is drivably connected to the upper end of the agitator shaft 44 by way of a chain and sprocket connection 50, a horizontally extending shaft l, and a gear type speed reducing unit 52. The connection 53 comprises a sprocket 53 on the armature shaft of the motor 43, a sprocket 51E on one end of' the shaft 5l, and an endless chain 55 around these two sprockets.

The gear type speed reducing unit 52 extends between, and serves drivably to connect, the other end of the shaft 5l and the upper end of the agitator shaft 44, and is mounted on a pair of laterally spaced channel beams 56. The latter, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, extend across the upper end of the cylindrical side wall 28 of the remelting tank and have their ends secured to an out-turnedflange 51. The shaft 5l extends radially with respect to the tank and is journaled in a bearing 58 on the beams 56. When the remelting tank is in operation the stripped or peeled coatings which are delivered into the tank by way of the conduit 33 are melted as the result of contact with the steam pipes 30, 3l and 32. The material which is remelted in the tank ll is kept constantly in motion by the agitator 43, with the result that the moisture adhering to the coatings is liberated and no steam tending to cause the material to bubble over is thus formed. The remelted material is discharged from the remelting tank l l to the reclaiming tank l2 by way of a spout 59.y This spout, as shown in Figure l, extends downwardly from the upper portion of the cylindrical side wall 23 of the remelting tank into one end of' the reclaiming tank I2. During operation of the apparatus the remelted material overflows from the remelting tank through the spout 59 into the reclaiming tank l2.

'Ihe reclaiming tank l2 is disposed on the suboor f1 of the combined slaughtering and packing house H in close proximity to the remelting tank I l. It is elongated and consists of a front Wall 60, a back wall 6l, a bottom 62, and a pair of ends 63. In addition the reclaiming tank comprises a pair of laterally spaced steam coils 64, and a series of transversely extending steam coils 65, and a longitudinally extending trough 66. The coils 64 and 65 serve to keep the remelted material at a temperature of approximately 325 F. since at such temperature the material is in a liquid state or condition. The coils 54 are located inwards and extend lengthwise of the front and back Walls 65 and 6l and are suitably connected for the flow of steam therethrough. The coils 65 extend between the coils 64, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, and are retained in place by way of brackets 6l which are connected to and extend upwards from the reclaiming tank bottom 62. Steam. is introduced into the coils 65 by way of a longitudinally extending header 68 adjacent to the top of the tank l2'. A header 69 is connected to the discharge ends of the coils 65 and serves as a return for the spent steam. The tank is supported from the sub-door f1 by way of a plurality of angle iron legs '9 which are suitably secured to the lower portions of the front and back walls 65 and 6l. The trough 66 extends along and projects outwardly from the upper portion of the front wall 63 of the reclaiming tank and comprises front and rear walls 1| and' 72, a bottom wall 13, and end walls 14. It is surrounded by a jacket l5, as shown in Figure 5, and is heated by way of a plurality or series of longitudinally extending steam pipes 716 in the space between the jacket and the front, back and bottom of the trough. The hair, cotton and other debris which are embedded in or adhere to the coatings after they are stripped from the hog carcasses tend to iioat and are adapted to be raked from the remelted material in the reclaiming tank into the trough 56. An out-turned flange il is formed as an integral part of the upper margin of the front wall 33 of the reclaiming tank and serves to direct or guide the raked hair, cotton and debris from the reclaiming tank propel' into the trough. A screen '18 overlies and is spaced a small distance above the bottom 'I3 of the trough and serves as a strainer whereby the raked hair and other debris are maintained in the upper portion of the trough and the resinous material accompanying the hair and debris is permitted to drain onto the trough bottom 13. The latter is inclined and directs the strained material to a discharge spout 'i9 at one end of the trough. This spout is adapted to discharge into any suitable storage receptacle which when filled may be poured back into the dipping tank 9. The hair, cotton, and other debris which accumulate above the strainer forming screen 18 are adapted to be removed from the trough by way of a fork or other suitable implement. A platform Si! is suitably supported in front of the reclaiming tank and is adapted to support rake-equipped operators in front of the trough. The reclaimed remelted coating material is adapted to be returned to the dipping tank 9 by way of a pump 3i. This pump is located at the end of the tank which is opposite to the spout 59 of the remelting tank and is driven by an electric motor 82 through the medium of a belt and pulley connection 83. The inlet side of the pump is connected to receive the material from the tank by Way of a pipe connection 84 which extends through the adjacent tank end G3 and embodies a gate valve 85 for controlling the ow of the coating material through it into the pump. The pump outlet is connected to the dipping tank El by a pipe 85. This pipe extends upwards through the main oor f of the combined slaughtering and packing house H and leads to the top portion of the tank Q. The electric motor B2 for driving the pump is mounted on a pivoted bed-plate 8l on an angle bar support 88. The connection S3 comprises a pulley 89 on the armature shaft of the motor 32, a pulley on the rotor shaft of the pump, and an endless belt 9i extending between and around the two pulleys. When current is supplied to the motor 82, the pump 90 is driven and operates to draw the remelted reclaimed material from the tank i2 and supply it under pressure through the pipe 8% into the dipping tank S. In order to maintain the resinous coating material in the tank 9 at a constant level an overow pipe 92 is provided. This pipe is of greater capacity than the pump 8l and leads downwards to the reclaiming tank l2 from the point at which the level of the material in the tank 9 is to be maintained, During operation of the coating apparatus, the dipping tank 9 is replenished with coating material from the tank I2 by way of the pump 8| and the level of the material in the tank is maintained constant as the result of the action of the overiiovv pipe S2. By maintaining the material in the tank 9 at a constant level the seal-like coatings on the hog carcasses are uniform. In order to prevent any hair or debris from passing from the tank i2 into the tank 9 a screen 93 is provided. This screen is disposed in front of the inlet end ci the pipe connection B and extends transversely across the reclaiming tank The side margins of the screen 93 fit in vertical guideweys @fr which are mounted on the inner faces of the front and back walls of the reclaiming tank and permit the screen 93 to be removed when desired for cleaning purposes. By reason of the fact that the pump 8i is located at the end of the tank which is opposite the discharge spout 59 and the screen 93 is employed there is no likelihood of any hair, cotton or other debris being pumped into the dipping tank. The pipe connection 84 includes avalve controlled section 95 Which is adapted when opened to permit of drainage of the tank 9 by a reverse drive of the pump 8|. In order to prevent failure or breakage of the pump 8l from stopping operation of the apparatus, a second pump 96 is provided. This pump is located alongside of the pump 8l and is driven by means of an electric motor Ell' through the medium of a belt and pulley connection 93. It is connected to the reclaiming tank l2 by a valve controlled pipe connection 99 and its discharge end communicates with the tank 9 by way of a pipe |00.

Assuming that the carcass dipping mechanism I0, the agitator 43, and the pump 8i are in operation and that the tanks 9, l! and l2 are properly or duly heated by their respective steam pipes or coils, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: The hog carcasses after being subjected to the action of the dehairing machine and while supported on the gambrel equipped trolleys T are moved one at a time onto the discharge end of the preceding rail section i'. From this end of the section r the carcasses are picked up by the hook equipped cross shafts of the endless conveyor iB and are first lowered into the tank 9 and are then elevated from the tank and placed in suspended relation with the receiving end of the following rail section r1 of the overhead rail R. When immersed in the resinous material in the tank 9 the carcasses acquire a seal-like coating, as hereinbefore described. After placement on the receiving end of the rail section r1 the carcasses are moved past the spray 25 and then to the coating stripping point 23. During travel of the carcasses past the spray the resinous coatings are cooled to a plastic stato as the result of the action of the water. At the stripping point 2S the coatings are stripped from the carcasses, as hereinbefore described, in order to effect removal of the hair and roots remaining on the skins of the carcasses as well as removal of glandular secretions and other undesirable matter. After stripping or peeling from the carcasses the coatings are dropped through the conduit 33 into the remelting tank l. In this tank the coatings are melted and the rcmeltedmaterial, as hereinbefore pointed out, is subjected to the action of the agitator 33 which liberates the moisture accompanying the coatings and prevents any steam formation which is likely to cause bubbling-over of 'thD material. From the remelting tank ii the remelted material overflows through the spout 59 into the reclaiming tank i2. In this tank E2 the haircotton and other debris are raked from the material into the trough 65, where they are separated from any adhering resinous .materiai by the straining action of the screen T3 over the trough bottom 13. After being cleared of the aforementioned debris the remelted material iiowsv through the screen S3 and is pumped by the pump BI through the pipe 86 back to the dipping tank 9. As a result of the action of the overow pipe 92 and constant pumping of the pump 8l the melted resinous coating material in the tank 9 is maintained at all times et z; constant or uniform level. When it is desired to drain the tank 9 the valve of the valve-controlled section is opened and the pump BI is reversely driven. The material in the remelting tank l2 is maintained at approximately a temperature of 325 F. in order to compensate for any loss of heat of the material during flow to the dipping tank 9 through the pipe 86. The pump 8| and the overflow pipe 92 leading from the dipping tank to the reclaiming tank I2 constitute means for maintaining constancy of level of the resinous material in the tank 9.

The coating apparatus which is shown in Figure 8 constitutes another or second embodiment of the invention and is illustrated in connection with a combined slaughtering and packing house having a single floor f2. It operates similarly to, and serves the same purpose as, the two oor apparatus of Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, and comprises a dipping tank a carcass dipping mechanism |02, a remelting tank |03, and a reclaiming tank |04. The dipping tank is mounted in the oor f2 and is suitably heated to maintain in a melted condition a column or mass of material for coating purposes. The remelting tank |03 is substantially the same in design and construction as the remelting tank I. It is disposed beneath the following rail section r1 and has a side pipe whereby the stripped or peeled coatings may be introduced into it for remelting purposes. The reclaiming tank |04 is mounted on the floor f2 and extends between the remelting tank I 03 and the dipping tank |0|. It is the same in design and construction as the reclaiming tank I2 of the two floor coating apparatus, serves as a medium for effecting removal of the hair, cotton and other debris which is found in the remelted material, and is connected to vreceive the remelted material from the remelting tank |03 by way of a pipe l 05a. The remelted or reclaimed material is delivered into the dipping tank |0| by way of a pipe |06. This pipe is connected to one end of the reclaiming tank |04 and leads downwards to the tank |0|. It embodies a control valve |07 which when opened permits the remelted and reclaimed material in the tank |04 to flow by gravity into the tank |0|. The valve |01 is adapted normally to remain closed and to be opened only when it is necessary to replenish the supply of resinous coating material in the tank |0I. 'I'he dipping tank |0| is provided at one end thereof with an overflow chamber |08. The material in the tank is adapted to spill or overow into this chamber when the proper dipping level is reached. A motor driven pump |09 is connected to the chamber |08 by Way of a pipe connection l0 and is adapted to pump the overilow material in the chamber |08 back into the tank |0| via a pipe The pump IUI is adapted to be constantly driven during operation of the apparatus of Figure 8 with the result that a constant level of the material is maintained in the tank |0|. When the amount of material in the chamber |08 runs low or drops to a point immediately above the inlet end of the pipe connection ||0 more material is admitted into the tank |0| from the reclaiming tank |04 by Way of the valve controlled pipe |06.

The two hereinbefore described embodiments of the invention operate in an efficient manner and are not only practical but also perform their intended purpose with but a minimum loss of the coating material.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I-Iaving thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a dipping tank containing a mass of readily congealable coating material and having heating means for maintaining the material in a melted condition, means associated with the tank for dipping animal carcasses in the mass in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses oi hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and melt them into a mass of remelted material, a reclaiming tank connected to receive the reclaimed material from the remelting tank and provided with means for effecting removal of the hair and other matter from said material, and means for delivering the material from the reclaiming tank to the dipping tank for reuse.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for applying readily congealable material in a melted condition to f carcasses in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal` from the carcasses and melt them into a mass' of remelted material, a reclaiming tank with heating means therefor, connected to receive the remelted material from the remelting tank and provided with means for effecting removal 0f the hair and other matter from the remelted mate-A rial, and means for delivering the material from the reclaiming tank to the applying means.

3. In an apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a dipping tank containing a mass of readily congealable material and having l heating means for maintaining the material in a melted condition, means associated with the dipping tank for dipping animal carcasses in the mass in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the car-"- casses of hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and remelt them into a mass of remelted material and provided with an agitator for liberating any moisture adhering to the i' coatings during melting of the latter, a reclaiming' tank connected to receive the reclaimed material from the remelting tank and provided With means for effecting removalof the hair and other matter from said material, and means fory congealable adhesive material in a melted condil5 tion to animal carcasses in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and remelt them into a mass of remelted material and provided with an agitator for liberating any moisture adhering to the coatings during melting of the latter, a reclaiming tank with heating means therefor connected to receive the remelted material from the remelting tank and provided with means for effecting removal of the hair and other matter from the remelted material, and means for delivering the material from the reclaiming tank back to the applying means for reuse.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a dipping tank containing a mass of readily congealable material and having heating means for maintaining the material in a melted condition, means associated with thedipping tank for dipping carcasses in the lnass in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and melt them into a mass of remelted material, a reclaiming tank connected to receive the remeited material from the remelting tank and provided with a trough at one side thereof into which the hair and other matter may be raked, and means for delivering the material from the reclaiming tank back to the dipping tank for reuse.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a dipping tank containing a mass of readily congealable material and having heating means for maintaining the material in a melted condition, means associated with the dipping tank or dipping carcasses in the mass in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and melt them into a mass of remelted material, a reclaiming tank connected to receive the remelted material from the remelting tank and provided at one side thereof with a screen equipped trough into which the hair and other mattei' in the remelted material may be raked, and means for delivering the material from the reclaiming tank back to the dipping tank and maintaining the mass of material in the last mentioned tank at a constant level.

'7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a dipping tank containing a mass of readily congealable material and having heating means for maintaining the material in a melted condition, means associated with the dipping tank for dipping carcasses in the mass in order to form coatings thereon which upon rcmoval after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and melt them into a mass of remelted material and provided with a power driven agitator for liberating any moisture adhering to the coatings during melting of the latter, a reclaiming tank with heating means therefor, connected to receive the remelted material from the remelting tank and provided at one side thereof with a trough into which the hair and other mattei' in the remelted material may be' raked, and means lor delivering the material from the reclaiming tank back to the dipping tank for reuse.

8. The combination with a building structure having an upper and a lower floor, or a dipping tank with a mass of readily congealable material therein mounted in the upper iioor and having heating mea for maintaining the material in a melted condi on, means over upper oc-r and associated with the dipping tank for dipping aninial carcasses in the mas orde to form coat ings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a conduit extending through said upper floor for conducting the coatings toward the lower floor after removal from the carcasses, means including a tank under the conduit and on said lower floor for melting the removed coatings and eieoting removal of the hair and other matter from the remelted material, and pump means for delivering the remelted material back to the dipping tank for reuse.

9. The combination with a building structure having an upper and a lower floor, of a dipping tank with a mass of readily congealable material therein mounted in the upper oor and having heating means for maintaining the material in a melted condition, means over said upper floor and associated with the dipping tank for dipping animal carcasses in the mass in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a conduit extending through said upper oor for conducting the coatings toward the lower floor after removal from the carcasses, a remelting tank mounted on the lower floor so as to receive the removed coatings from the conduit and adapted to melt the coatings and form them into a mass of remelted material, a reclaiming tank on the said lower floor in proximity to the remelting tank, connected to receive the remelted material from said remelting tank and provided with means for effecting removal of the hair and other matter from the remelted material, and pump means for delivering the material from the reclaiming tank back to the dipping tank for reuse.

10. In an apparatus oi the character described, the combination of a dipping tank containing a mass of readily congealable adhesive coating material and having heating means for maintaining the material in a melted condition, means associated with the tank for dipping animal carcasses in the mass in order to orm coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, means including a tank at a higher level than the dipping tank for melting the coatings after removal from the carcasses and effecting; removal of the hair and other matter from the remelted material, a valve controlled pipe lead" ing from the second mentioned tank to the dipping tank or conducting by gravity the remelted material from the former to the latter, and means for maintaining the mass of material in the dipping tank at a constant level including an overflow chamber at one end of the dipping tank and a pump for pumping overow material fromy said chamber back to the dipping tank.

11. In an apparatus of the character dcscribed, the combination of a dipping tank containing a mass of readily congealable material and having heating means for maintaining the mass in a melted condition, means associated with the dipping tank for dipping animal carcasses in the mass in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal alter becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter,

a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and melt them into a mass of remelted material and provided with a power driven agitator for liberating any moisture adhering to the coatings after remelting of the latter, a reclaiming tank in proximity to the remelting tank and at a higher elevation than the dipping tank connected to receive the remelted material from said remelting tank and having means to eiect removal of the hair and said other matter from the remelted material, a valve controlled pipe leading from the reclaiming tank downwards to the dipping tank for conducting by gravity the remelted material from the reclaiming tank to said dipping tank, and means for maintaining the mass of material in the dipping tank at a constant level including an overiiow chamber at one end of the dipping tank and a pump for pumping overow material from said chamber back to the dipping tank.

lll)

12. In an apparatus of the character described, theI combination of means for applying readily congealable material in a melted condition to animal carcasses in order to form coatings thereon which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and remelt them into a mass of remelted material and provided With a power driven agitator for liberating any moisture on the coatings during melting or" the latter, means for removing the hair and other matter from the remelted material, and means for delivering the remelted material to the applying means after removal of said hair and other matter from said material.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of meansI for applying readily congealable material in a -melted condition to animal carcasses in order to form coating thereon Which upon removal after becoming plastic rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, a remelting tank adapted to receive the coatings after removal from the carcasses and melt them into a mass of remelted material, a reclaiming tank adapted to receive the remelted material from the remelting tank and provided with atrough at one side thereof into which the hair and other matter may be raked, and means for delivering the material from the reclaiming tank to the applying means for reuse,

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for applying readily congealable material in a melted condition to animal carcasses in order to form coatings thereon Which upon removal after becoming plastic v rid the carcasses of hair and other matter, means forfremelting the coatings after removal from the carcasses and for reclaiming the material comprising a reclaiming tank provided at one side thereof With a trough into which the hair and other matter may be raked, and means for delivering the material from said reclaiming tank. back to the applying means for reuse.

ARTHUR E. OZOUF. 

